A coffee table transformation

My first few attempts to write this post were severely hampered by a bad case of writer's block.  Seriously, when was the last time I wrote anything longer than an email?  I've been putting off posting until I had a good project with decent photos to show off, and I've finally got both!

So here it is, my very first ever furniture refinishing project!  I couldn't be more pleased with how well it turned out.  Over the last few months, I've been spending my precious few uninterrupted minutes each morning reading home decorating and crafting blogs, drifting around the DIY section of Pinterest, and feeding my Etsy addiction.  The combination of these activities has made me desperate to start using some of the many gorgeous ideas floating around blogland and the interwebs.  Enter the wonderful Shaunna West of Perfectly Imperfect.  Her blog is overflowing with just the sorts of projects I'd love to try, and she just so happens to have published a wonderful ebook, Creating Your Masterpiece, all about refinishing furniture!  Haha!  Inspiration AND very detailed instructions all in one place.  Heavenly, I tell you.

I decided to make my first attempt on our very old coffee table.  I've always loved the shape and size of this table, but the finish?  Not so much.  My husband's aunt was the original purchaser, I believe, and she handed it down to his parents, who handed it down to him, who brought it with him when we got married.  A long and storied career this table's had.  Not to mention a few run-ins with my husband's childhood dog.  She evidently found the table's feet to be irresistably gnaw-able.  Delightful.

Anyway, when the table came to me, it was stained a dark brown with a very glossy finish.  After several years of my kiddos climbing all over of it (I pick my battles, people), the already wobbly coffee table was in definite need of some shoring up.  Stephen took it apart and reassembled it using some new screws and copious amounts of wood glue.  This baby is solid now.

I went with a light blue/green paint color (Olympic's "By the Sea," I believe), and then created a really beautiful aged effect with Valspar's Antiquing Glaze (thanks, Shaunna, for the tip!).  I finished it with 2 coats of Minwax Paste Finishing Wax (3 coats on the top).  I can't believe how perfectly the glaze picked up all the little dings the table's accumulated throughout the years.  Now, rather than sad and dilapidated, our coffee table is perfectly lovely and wonderfully worn in all the right places.  I love it!!

Here are a couple of sort-of-before shots.  I'd already done some sanding, but this gives you an idea of the original color and condition of the table.  See the dog chew marks on the feet?  Cute, huh?  (Oh, and I really hope you enjoy the meticulously styled background in these next few photos.  I worked hard to achieve that garage-chic look.)

Here's a final after photo.  Do you guys like the results as much as I do?

I'm linking this post to Thrifty Decor Chick's Before and After party,

Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday,

and Perfectly Imperfect's random furniture link party!